The discussion will explore varieties that perform well on the Central Coast, along with fruit tree care tips on pruning and planting. The meeting will be led by fruit tree experts Orin Martin from the UC Santa Cruz Farm and Garden and Matthew Sutton of Orchard Keepers.

The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History is hosting a tour of Moore Creek Preserve starting at 9 a.m. Jan. 19.

Moore Creek Preserve is a 246-acre city open space that offers hiking trails through open meadows with scenic views of the Monterey Bay. The family-focused tour will explore scat, tracks, birds and leaves.

Moore Creek Preserve has two walk-in entrances at Highway 1 and Shaffer Road and at the end of Meder Street. To register, go to santacruzmuseums.org.

Fruit tree tips offered at event

The Garden Company Nursery and Gift Shop is hosting a fruit tree discussion session from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26.

The event will be led by fruit tree expert Orin Martin of the Alan Chadwick Garden. He'll discuss varieties of fruit trees that perform well on the Central Coast, along with fruit tree care tips.

The Garden Company Nursery and Gift Shop is at 2218 Mission St., Santa Cruz. For details, call 831-429-8424.

Matthew Sutton, owner of backyard orchard business Orchard Keepers, will teach how to choose a quality tree, prepare the planting hole, address fertility needs and cover the seasonal highlights of fruit tree care.

The workshop costs $20 for members of the Friends of the UCSC Farm and Garden, $30 for the general public and $5 for UCSC students (with student ID) payable the day of the class (check or cash only). Online registration is also available at http://fruittree101.brownpapertickets.com.

The UCSC Farm is a 1/4 mile up the gravel road above the Blacksmith Shop; free public parking is available in the parking lot at the corner of Coolidge Drive and Ranch View Road, just inside the main entrance to the UCSC campus.

The UC Santa Cruz Arboretum will hold its volunteer orientation and training classes starting 9:30 a.m. to noon Jan. 8 and the next five consecutive Tuesdays.

The classes provide an overview of the programs, projects, people and history of the Arboretum, as well as an introduction to botany, horticulture, conservation and propagation. Garden tours and viewing behind-the-scenes operations are part of every class.

The classes are free in exchange for volunteer commitment or $75 for course and materials.

The UCSC Arboretum entrance is near Western Drive on Empire Grade Road in the Horticulture Building. For more information, visit the Arboretum website at http://arboretum.ucsc.edu.

The Sentinel welcomes submissions for Home & Garden Digest. Email items to homeandgarden@santacruzsentinel.com, mail them to Home & Garden Digest, 1800 Green Hills Road, Suite 201, Scotts Valley, CA 95066, or fax them to 831-429-9620. Information must be received by 5 p.m. Tuesday for Saturday publication.